New council members, old ones, have much to learn from each other
The four new members of the Edison Township Council are relative newcomers to the local political scene, and this carries advantages and disadvantages, many of them closely linked.

On the one hand, as newcomers, they should be able to approach the governance of the township with fresh eyes, unsullied and unscarred by the bitter political struggles that seemed to erupt almost daily with the previous council.

On the other hand, as newcomers, they are also fairly inexperienced when compared to both their peers and their predecessors. While this is a disadvantage that, by definition, dissolves with time, this is nonetheless a precarious time for these new council members and great care should be taken, especially in their first year.

Athird challenge the newcouncil members are facing is the perception that they are interlopers, pawns, puppets and a variety of other less than flattering sobriquets. Their connection with Mayor Choi has not endeared them to some of their contemporaries.

During last week's special council meeting, the temporary estimated tax increase was introduced 5-2, with the only dissenting votes being from Councilwoman Antonia Ricigliano and Councilman Anthony Massaro. We hope this does not become a pattern.

There are several very simple things the old and new council members can try to prevent this from happening. Food is one. Call it prosaic, mawkish or sentimental, but having everyone get together for a meal at least once a week could do the council well in establishing, at the very least, a civil, working relationship. Being around the more experienced council members, too, should give the new members the opportunity to learn what they need to know faster than if they had to figure things out on their own.

The new council would also be wise to draw upon the expertise of other, non-politically affiliated inhabitants of this township. They should sit down with Edison's local financial experts and learn as much as they can about municipal budgets. They should sit down with the planner and learn as much as they can about land use. They should sit down with previous council members and draw on their experience.

Meanwhile, the old council members should, themselves, take the time to learn as much as they can from the new council members. There isn't a person alive who can't benefit from the wisdom and experience of others.

Of course, there is much more that goes into navigating the complex social dynamics of local government. However, we do feel that it would, at least, be a start.